Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-03-24


one which would have brought his YES
sci to the relief of the shipwrccked crew
when a white ;rd iiew against his face.
and tluttered its wings ia such way
that the astonished sailor did not dare
to open his eyes while the assault con
tinued The captain witnessed the
singular occurrence, and being, like all
seafaring men, superstitious, he said:
1T strikes me that there is mean
ing in this. We must change our
course.
Owing to this the course of the brig
was changed, and by means of it many
lives were saved, rs we have seem
After this Lilla's pet pigeon was, as
is natural, considered a most wonderful
bird, and was made the theme Of talks
for DAYS after the rescue; while Lila
herself lay Frustrated upon ii bed of
sickness. The reaction from despair
to hope had done what distress had
not been able to do. and it was long
before she was well enough to come
up on deck
When she did so she was but Il shad-
ow of herself; but youth rallies quickly,
and she soon was rs merry and bloom
inc as before.
The captain was quite M old man,
and his heart warmed towards Lila in
fatherly manner.
II have a son at home," he said to
her one day, 'who would give his eyes
for Il pigeon like that. :" pointing to Lii
la 5 pet, which was, as usual, perched
on her shoulder. Hes that fond of
studying into the ways of dumb crea-
lures that he's good for nothing else
Not but he's made good thing of it,
for he is now professor of some depart
ment in college, which deals in Just
such things. He corresponds with
learned men all over the world, and I'm
proud of him, if / do say it who should
not. He is greatly taken with this kind
OF car1'ier-pigeon, and quite while ago
he let an educated East Indian take
home one of his pet birds, with the
understanding that he should let him
loose when he got home, and wing his
way back, bringing my son a letter tell
ing of his safe arrival. But Perry has
never heard from him, or hadn't when
Twas home last time He says most
probably some accident happened on
his homing trip"
"How long ago was it?" asked Lila
1T was about two years since.
Il found my pigeon almost wounded
10 death just about that time, +" said Lii
la. ''And he had note tied under his
wing with the oldest looking writing
on it | ever saw. | shouldn't wonder
if it came from the East Indies: | will
get the note and show you. / saved it,
meaning to be honorable, and let the
pigeon take it to its proper owner when
could make up my mind to part with
the pretty creature"
And Lila put her bright lips to her
pets white throat with loving yes
ture.
Don't do anything of the kind,
You've got an undoubted right to the
bird. That would be an excess of hon
esty.
Lila smiled at the captains views
regarding her intended restoration.
Your advice agrees with my wishes,
but don't quite think it does with my
conscience she said. but will ret
the billet
1t proved to be rs much Of puzzle
10 the captain as to Lila. SO they
had to wait for its solution until land
was reached.
That time soon arrived, and then
Lila was domicilcd with her relatives.
who had almost given up All hope ii
welcoming her, thinking that the ship
Hilda must have shared the fate of 9TH
ns which had been given up Tor lost.
One evening the captain called to see
Aer, accompanied by his learned son.
who was 50 shy and constrained in his
manner that Lila Mt first thought him
very uninterestil.r; but She found out
her mistake before the call WAS over
rs he could talk German with her like
4 native, and. once warmed to his sub
iec:, lost the GOODNESS which had at first
seemed to chill Lila.
The pet pigeon came ia for his full
share of interest, although he did not
prove to be the old friend the captain
had spoken Of.
The professor was able to translate
the conteats of the billet, which was
written in one of the abstruse tongues
which be had mastered IL had been
undoubtedly penned in 4 spirit Of sport
full romance by some young scholar in
Il foreign university, and fastened to a
homin@ pigeon. The writer little
thought how like Il prophecy the ensu-
ing events would make il seem.
90 forth ,vhita b,l - ono ~ hose ,,,a;1o,, -,
lis like thy cleaning pumage-white
Tell her that Ger the pillows thunderous roll
one waits her cOming-her truc knight.
1t has proved Il true prophecy. Lii
Ii and the professor are to be married
in the spring